Modi to visit SL in May

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed his participation in UN Vesak Day celebrations to be conducted in Sri Lanka in May this year, a minister said.

The UN Vesak Day will be observed in Sri Lanka to mark the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha who founded Buddhism. Sri Lanka is predominately a Buddhist country with more than 70 percent of the population following the religion. Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told Xinhua that the government had invited a number of world leaders and Indian Prime Minister Modi had confirmed his participation. We are going to celebrate the thrice-blessed day on a grand scale, he mentioned. -Xinhua